The Audience Falls Silent
Become a
Premium Member
and post notes and photos about your poem like Constance La France.
I had heard about a ...
a writer's group ... in my city
where a writer could recite their poem or short story
on a stage with an audience
I decided on a poem ... of my heritage
~ a feather lost, gliding and drifting, it soars
in the mighty wind, it twirls and swirls
once the 'People' owned all the wilderness ~
I was so nervous and trembled
for days I worked on memorizing the lines of my poem
making all my friends listen
over and over again speaking it to a mirror
with smiles .. and no smiles
~ there, upon a sheer jagged cliff an appaloosa
horse of many colors stands majestic
and this Ojibwe girl gazes under an azure sky ~
we had to listen to several talkers before my turn
they were so good that my heart sank
I would look like a fool ... to my friends
but when my name was announced
I gathered up my 'courage' and strength
and stepped ... on the stage ... standing silent for a moment
~ there, in the mighty wind that roars and howls
eagle feathers in my hair and on my horse flutter
and the vast lands of Canada seek the horizon ~
when I finished reciting my poem
there was a deafening quiet
the audience fallen silent
I take a breath and look around the room
oh, why were people so still ...
and then ... the sound of cheers ring out
and all the audience stands ... to clap
for this Ojibwe girl ...
~ there, above in that cloudless sky canopy
eagles fly ... symbolizing the spirit and strength of the 'People'
and the only sound ... those fluttering feathers in the wind ~
.. and a feather lost ... drifts into the audience
___________________
May 6, 2021
Poetry/Free Verse/the audience falls silent
Copyright Protected, ID 05-1352-902-06
All Rights Reserved, 2021, Constance La France
Written for the Premier contest, The Audience Falls Silent
sponsor, Kai Michael Neumann, Judged 06/02/2021
Copyright © Constance La France | Year Posted 2021
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment